COLLEGE OF BUSINESS, ENTREPRENEURIAL, AND ACCOUNTANCY

DEPARTMENT OF OFFICE ADMINISTRATION

THE EFFECTS OF SCHOOL POLICY ON THE ACADEMIC PERFORMANCE

OF THE OFFICE ADMINISTRATION STUDENTS

An Undergraduate Thesis Presented to the Faculty of the

College of Business, Entrepreneurship and Accountancy

Rizal Technological University

M. Eusebio Ave, Maybunga, Pasig City

In Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree

Bachelor of Science and Office Administration

By

Arca, Jessilyn D.

Cabalida, Rea Lou R.

Manaog, Aira E.
 COLLEGE OF BUSINESS, ENTREPRENEURIAL, AND ACCOUNTANCY
DEPARTMENT OF OFFICE ADMINISTRATION
CHAPTER I

THE PROBLEM AND ITS BACKGROUND

Introduction

The operational processes that make up a school, the quality

requirements for educating, the expectations, and the practice of accountability

are all allowed and implemented with the help of policies that are also provided to

create the operational procedures. Schools would be unable to meet the needs

of the students without them because they lack the organizational structure and

operational capabilities needed. The purpose of the policy is made to promote an

organized and productive environment, as well as, to prevent the chaos that will

lead to the students feeling unsafe inside the school. An organized, productive,

and safe environment will not only benefit the school members but also the

school's reputation. The policies made by the school will reflect the environment

inside the school that will affect the academic performance of the students.

Academic performance is used to evaluate students' progress in various subject

areas. Teachers typically make use the rate of graduates, the overall

performance of the classroom, and standardized tests results in order to assess

students' achievement.

The environment that the school provides to the students makes it easier

to distinguish from any other place. There is a separate gate for the entrance and

exit, the student knows where to go and what to do, and the school environment
 COLLEGE OF BUSINESS, ENTREPRENEURIAL, AND ACCOUNTANCY
DEPARTMENT OF OFFICE ADMINISTRATION
is organized and productive at the same time. Everyone's having fun and going

home safe and sound. Everyone knows how important it is to maintain such an

environment for both the facilitator and the students to have a more engaging

ambiance for learning. As stated by Refiq et al., (2022), students' academic

performance suffers as a result of the lack of these amenities, and the education

department as a whole is unable to create a productive educational system. As a

result, intellectual ruin or decay appears and devastates the entire educational

system. The amenities stated in this previous study include teacher support,

physical environment, time, discipline, equality among students, and

extracurricular activities. These amenities are the components related to the

implementation of school policy. In this study, the researchers intend to focus on

the environment created by the school policies and the effects aforementioned

on the academic performance of the students.

The general purpose of the study is to reveal the effects of the school

policy on the academic performance of the office administration students. To give

a comprehensive understanding of what are the effects and how the school

policy affects the academic performance of the students. This study is intended

for office administrative students who are at the stage of learning administrative

qualities that are accustomed to the course they chose. The administrative

quality includes planning, organizing, directing, coordinating, and controlling.

Furthermore, this study will contribute great significance to the rest of the
 COLLEGE OF BUSINESS, ENTREPRENEURIAL, AND ACCOUNTANCY
DEPARTMENT OF OFFICE ADMINISTRATION
students’ whatever course they belong to, as well as, the other members of the

school.

Theoretical Framework

This study uses the Regulatory Focus Theory of Tory Higgins in 1997,

cited in the previous research "Effective Strategy Types Depending on

Regulatory Focus in Academic Settings" by Yasuda and Goegan (2023). The

Theory of the Regulatory Focus is divided into two systems: the promotion and

the prevention system. Fostering hope and aspiration is a primary goal for those

who use a promotion-focused system. On the other hand, pursuing safety and

responsibilities is the primary purpose of the prevention-focused system. It was

expected in the current study that perceptions of functional strategies could vary

depending on different regulatory focus. The reward for learning may vary

depending on whatever the regulator is addressing regulatory priority. The

accomplishment of an eager approach could serve as a reward for learning

engagement for those with a promotion focus. They might make learning easier.

The achievement of avoidance vigilance methods as a reward helps people with

a preventative emphasis facilitate their learning and increases learning

engagement. Each strategy's success is crucial to the teaching of the students.

The idea of "assessment as learning" has recently gained popularity, and

students are advised to actively evaluate their performance by keeping track of

how they are progressing toward academic performance (Yan & Yang, 2021).
 COLLEGE OF BUSINESS, ENTREPRENEURIAL, AND ACCOUNTANCY
DEPARTMENT OF OFFICE ADMINISTRATION
In this study, the application of the theory namely the students who are

promotion-focused are most likely to be motivated to abide by the school policies

with a positive attitude since they would feel as though they have achieved

something by doing so. Their desire to achieve something would most likely drive

them to consistently provide their best effort, which would affect their academic

performance. However, students with a prevention-focused approach adhere to

the rules set forth by the school in order to prevent violations. They strive to avoid

or at least minimize inconveniences as much as they can, which will result in a

better outcome in their academic performance.

Figure 1. Regulatory Focus Theory

Figure 1 demonstrates the Regulatory Focus Theory applied to the Effects

of School Policy on the students. It shows the two systems: promotion focus, and

prevention focus, that will affect the academic performance of Office

Administration students.
 COLLEGE OF BUSINESS, ENTREPRENEURIAL, AND ACCOUNTANCY
DEPARTMENT OF OFFICE ADMINISTRATION

Conceptual Framework

INPUT PROCESS OUTPUT

1. Profile of the respondents in

terms of:

1.1 Age

1.2 Sex
Administration and

1.3. Year Level distribution of

survey
2. Effects of school policy on
questionnaire. Action Plan
the academic performance of
`
Office Administration Students

in terms of:
Collection of survey

2.1 Promotion Focus questionnaire with

answers.
2.2 Prevention Focus

3. Effects of school policy

affect the academic Interpretation and

performance of the Office analysis of

Administrative students in gathered data.

terms of:

3.1 Eager Strategies

3.2 Vigilant Strategies

 COLLEGE OF BUSINESS, ENTREPRENEURIAL, AND ACCOUNTANCY
DEPARTMENT OF OFFICE ADMINISTRATION

Feedback

Figure 2. Research Paradigm

The conceptual framework used in the study is the Input-Process-Output

Model, as shown in Figure 2. The IPO model is an overview of numerous articles

that discuss the various steps needed and instruct the researchers to develop a

series of actions necessary during the period of the specified educational

research. It considers other researchers' opinions, observations, and conclusions

on the topic of their academic study. (Canonizado, 2021).

The input consists of the profile of the respondents in terms of name, age,

sex, year level, and campus. Next, the effects of school policy on the academic

performance of office administration students in terms of promotion and

prevention focus. The last input pertains to the effects of school policy on the

academic performance of the office administrative students in terms of eager

strategies and vigilant strategies. The process comprises administering and

distributing survey questionnaires to the respondents and then collecting survey

questionnaires with answers. Lastly is the interpretation and analysis of gathered

data. Through these instruments, the foreseen output of this study is to provide

recommendations for the effects of school policy on the student's academic

performance, including utilization of school policy, active cooperation with school

policy, and quality of accountability.

 COLLEGE OF BUSINESS, ENTREPRENEURIAL, AND ACCOUNTANCY
DEPARTMENT OF OFFICE ADMINISTRATION

Statement of the Problem

The study seeks to determine the effects of the school policy on the

academic performance of the office administration students at Rizal

Technological University, Pasig.

Specifically, it seeks to answer to the following questions;

1. What is the demographic profile of the respondents in terms of:

1.1 Age

1.2 Sex

1.3. Year Level

2. What are the respondents’ assessments on the effects of school policy on the

academic performance of Office Administration Students in terms of:

2.1 Promotion Focus

2.1.1 Eager Strategies

2.2 Prevention Focus

2.2.1 Vigilant Strategies

3. How can the effects of school policy affect the academic performance of the

Office Administrative students in terms of:

 COLLEGE OF BUSINESS, ENTREPRENEURIAL, AND ACCOUNTANCY
DEPARTMENT OF OFFICE ADMINISTRATION

4. What is the significant relationship between the school policy to the academic

performance and the OA students when grouped according to profile?

5. What programs/projects may be proposed to encourage the students to abide

with the school policy actively?

Hypothesis

Based on the main problem of study, the researchers will test the

hypothesis using 0.05 level of significance.

There will be no significant relationship between school policy’s effects to

the academic performance and office administration students when grouped

according to profile.
 COLLEGE OF BUSINESS, ENTREPRENEURIAL, AND ACCOUNTANCY
DEPARTMENT OF OFFICE ADMINISTRATION

Significance of the Study

The result of this study will benefit the following entities:

Office Administration Students are beneficiaries of this study as they

will acquire a comprehensive understanding of what to consider in policy-making

to make an organized and productive environment, as part of their administrative

qualities.

The University will benefit from this study since it will be of help in

improving school policy for they can provide students with an effective and

productive environment.

Professors will benefit from this study since they can modify classroom

regulations based on school policy, which will improve students' academic

performance and learning experiences.

Future Researchers that desire to pursue a similar study, especially on

the effects of the school policy on the academic performance of the students,

would profit from this study.

 COLLEGE OF BUSINESS, ENTREPRENEURIAL, AND ACCOUNTANCY
DEPARTMENT OF OFFICE ADMINISTRATION

Scope and Delimitation of the Study

The purpose of this study is to determine the effects of school policy and

its relation to the students' academic performance. The focus of the study is more

on the effects and the outcome of the implementation of school policy and how

the environment shaped by the school policy affects the academic performance

of the students.

The scope of the study will be limited to the 3rd year office administration

students of Rizal Technological University-Pasig Campus. The participants will be

chosen randomly.
 COLLEGE OF BUSINESS, ENTREPRENEURIAL, AND ACCOUNTANCY
DEPARTMENT OF OFFICE ADMINISTRATION

Definition of Terms

The following terms are defined lexically and operationally:

Academic Performance refers to the assessment of a student's performance in

a variety of academic courses that are being affected by the school policy.

Environment refers to the setting created by school policy, which takes effect on

the students' academic performance.

Prevention Focus is a student's attitude towards the school's policy, which

prioritizes preventing loss, placing importance on duties and commitments, and

favoring vigilant/avoidant strategies.

Promotion Focus is a student's attitude towards the school policy that

incorporates the desire to make gains with an emphasis on goals and ideals and

favoring eager/approach strategies.

School Policy is a school's operating procedures and quality standards for

teaching and learning, expectations, and accountability that affect the students'

academic performance.
 COLLEGE OF BUSINESS, ENTREPRENEURIAL, AND ACCOUNTANCY
DEPARTMENT OF OFFICE ADMINISTRATION
CHAPTER II

REVIEW OF RELATED LITERATURE

In this chapter, the researchers present various relevant studies

conducted by individuals and other existing literature. These articles consist of

theories, concepts, and principles that are significant to the research being

undertaken by the researchers.

School Policy

By encouraging student self-discipline, a school policy fosters a secure

and friendly school environment. Local school policy must consider the

distinctive, diverse, and dynamic social communities that make up each school

(Asensi, 2019). The degree of conformity to the enforced school policies can be

utilized to determine how well-managed a school is, and this can be done with

the help of practical and strategic administrators through planning and

implementation, which are crucial steps in achieving the objective. According to

Erdianti & Al-Fatih (2019), the learning process in schools nowadays needs to

emphasize that they are employed to develop outcomes that can adapt to the

social context and impart knowledge. Schools must respond to questions about

disciplining students by adhering to preserving children to benefit the individual's

future. Building a collaborative strategy aims to progressively move educational

institutions and systems towards high standards, solve all issues affecting the

well-being and rights of young learners, and enhance other school operations.
 COLLEGE OF BUSINESS, ENTREPRENEURIAL, AND ACCOUNTANCY
DEPARTMENT OF OFFICE ADMINISTRATION
Attendance Policy

The participation and attendance of students in class is crucial to

education. As stated by Kearney et al., (2019) for students, attending class

regularly is an essential basic ability, and studies have shown that absences from

school can have both short- and long-term adverse consequences. Proper

attendance at school corresponds to higher academic achievement than

intermittent attendance, and poor attendance adversely affects results in the long

run. Moreover, Zubrick (2019) substantiated that poor attendance and a higher

number of excused absences negatively impact academic progress and

unpleasant performance in school. Repercussions for students who take classes

too frequently include forfeiting course credits, detention, and suspension, and

these sanctions may unintentionally make the situation worse. Students are

deprived of the chance to learn under the school policy by any absence, whether

or not it is excused.

ID Requirement

The U.S. Department of Education, National Center for Education

Statistics (2022) stated that schools employ a range of adheres and procedures

to ensure the safety of students, teachers, and staff. For instance, schools

control entry to the facilities and require students to wear badges or IDs. Using a

student ID provides consent for a person to be on the school's premises,

enhancing site security and quickly identifying unauthorized visitors. Protecting

 COLLEGE OF BUSINESS, ENTREPRENEURIAL, AND ACCOUNTANCY
DEPARTMENT OF OFFICE ADMINISTRATION
the safety and security of all students should be a top priority every day at every

school. Wearing identity cards is currently the "best utilized" for ensuring safety

at school.

Proper Uniform & Dress Code

It is necessary to be more precise research on the effects of dress codes

and uniform regulations in schools. Some researchers discover beneficial

impacts, while others assert there are none or only apparent effects. However,

Kashem (2019) stressed that the dress code is more than just what people wear;

the dress code impacts how people perceive you, regardless of whether you're

an outsider or a student. The viewpoint first imposes a beneficial expectation

based on the student's potential and actions. A valuable first impression

ultimately sets a positive learning environment in the students' minds, and how

students dress typically affects their learning, depending on their attitude.

Additionally, research has shown that school administrators often think that

mandated, strictly enforced clothing rules are suitable for students for several

reasons, including lowering the risk of sexual harassment and other forms of

violence and boosting productivity that influences students' academic

performance. (Aghasaleh, 2018).

Code of Conduct

Code of conduct and school discipline are essential elements of school

management to promote collaboration. Tauginienė et al., (2018) stated that

 COLLEGE OF BUSINESS, ENTREPRENEURIAL, AND ACCOUNTANCY
DEPARTMENT OF OFFICE ADMINISTRATION
codes of conduct are a component of the ethics infrastructure of colleges and

universities, which aims to promote academic integrity or "conformity with

ethically and expert guidance rules, regulations, and practices" while raising

standards. Codes of conduct are made to clarify what is expected of students in

a particular institution. When used correctly, it offers a framework for these

requirements as well as interventions and sanctions that can address any issue

with a student's behavior.

Academic Performance

According to Ballotpedia (2019), academic performance can be

considered an indicator of success in which students are successful in achieving

results throughout a range of educational topics. Academic performance is

frequently equated with a student's grade point average (GPA). Still, it can also

be measured by other factors, such as remarkable test results, extracurricular

accomplishments, and the student's capacity for leadership. (Williams, 2018).

The encouragement of students to achieve better academically comes from

within the students themselves, the school environment, and even the lecturers.

There should be a reason for everything; therefore, it should be more than just

concentrating on students' mistakes. (Mauliya et al., 2020).

As stated by Brew et al., (2022) a student's academic success is given the

highest priority in every educational setting. While many elements that affect

students' academic success have been explored, many issues still exist.
 COLLEGE OF BUSINESS, ENTREPRENEURIAL, AND ACCOUNTANCY
DEPARTMENT OF OFFICE ADMINISTRATION
According to the study, several variables significantly affect students' academic

success, including their school environment, the accessibility, and availability of

textbooks, libraries, and teachers. It demonstrates the need for regular

monitoring and adjustments to fulfill students' needs and aspirations, as doing so

will significantly boost students' academic performance and, as a result, enable

them to pursue their life goals.

Regulatory Focus Theory

In the study conducted by Yasuda and Goegan (2023) entitled “Effective

Strategy Types Depending on Regulatory Focus in Academic Setting,” it is stated

that the regulatory focus hypothesis suggests two distinct types of self-regulatory

styles: promotion focus and prevention focus. Aspiration and hope are what

people who prioritize promotion focus seek. On the contrary, those who place a

strong emphasis on preventive focus strive for responsibility and safety. In the

notion of adhering to school policies, students can employ either the promotion

focus approach or the prevention focus method. Policies are crucial as they help

to design model operating procedures, establish high standards for learning and

safety, and establish expectations and accountability in educational settings. A

school's ability to help instructors and students grasp the expectations for

standards of behavior and performance can be strengthened by having well-

developed policies and procedures (Ulla, 2018). Students may obey the rules

either to get a sense of accomplishment and to keep their records clean, or to

avoid punishments.
 COLLEGE OF BUSINESS, ENTREPRENEURIAL, AND ACCOUNTANCY
DEPARTMENT OF OFFICE ADMINISTRATION
Regardless of the reason for their compliance, it is expected that students

will cooperate and that their discipline will improve by adhering to school rules.

According to an article in Riverside Prep (2021), effective school discipline

procedures aid students in making responsible decisions and keeping their

attention on their studies. The fact that it results in improved academic

performance is one of the reasons why school discipline should be prioritized.

Students who are aware of the consequences of their behavior, both inside and

outside of the classroom tend to do better on academic tests. Abiding by the

school policy would help students become more disciplined and cooperative,

which would improve their academic performance.

Promotion Focus

As stated by Vriend et al., (2023), the main objective of promotion focuses

intent to achieve ideals through gain and advancement and further promote the

implementation of responsible innovation. It can be understood as a motivational

drive to encourage a person to achieve their goal. Each aspect of life and all

phases of undertaking rely upon motivation. Motivation will influence success and

accomplishment in life. Considering that learning involves studying with

motivation, motivation is also known as the "heart of learning," the "golden road

to learning," and a "potent factor in learning." Consideration, focus, interest, and

effort are encouraged by adequate motivation (Borah, 2021). Not only the

students but all the other members of the university who assist with the policy

implementation. With a promotion focus, everyone will possess a motivational

 COLLEGE OF BUSINESS, ENTREPRENEURIAL, AND ACCOUNTANCY
DEPARTMENT OF OFFICE ADMINISTRATION
drive that will encourage them to assist and act in accordance with the school

policy to gain something in return. Returns such as improved attendance,

achievement, and reduced retention, as promotion focus indicate the presence of

positive outcomes.

The decision to attend class and how well a student performs on exams

may depend on unobservable student traits like motivation leading to higher

grades and more frequent attendance are indicators of highly motivated students

(Dey, 2018). It is also stated that attendance reflects the dedication of students to

growth and development. The more dedicated the students in attending school,

the more achievement they will achieve. That is supported by Vizoso, Rodriguez,

& Aria-Gundin, (2018) who stated that dedication is one of the academic

engagement dimensions that is proven to have a significant relationship with

students' academic achievement. Correspondingly, Pedler, Willis, & Nieuwoudt,

(2021) stated that being valued, included, and acknowledged at school fosters a

strong sense of belonging. The study also included that college students who feel

more a part of a community exhibit increased motivation, academic self-

confidence, engagement, and achievement. Furthermore, it may affect students'

academic performance and lower the possibility that they may think about

quitting school before finishing, which helps with student retention.

Prevention Focus
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DEPARTMENT OF OFFICE ADMINISTRATION
People with prevention focus in nature seek safety and responsibilities

that leads to the perceived importance of avoidance strategy (Yasoda & Goegan,

2023). Avoidance strategy is also known as vigilant strategy where being

cautious in whatever given situation is the priority. Vigilance is the ability to

detect, investigate, and decipher ambiguous signals generated within as well as

outside the organization. Once the uncertainty of a weak signal of a threat or

opportunity is addressed, vigilance receives recognition when there is a

commensurate ability to move faster than competitors (Day & Schoemaker,

2019). Similarly, in school settings, students being vigilant in nature will avoid

uncertain and dangerous situations and will thrive in opportunities with safe

surroundings. Thus, acting in accordance with the school policy will make them

feel comfortable and secure.

Vigilant nature means free from any negative consequences that can

affect the academic performance of the student. However, being cautious is not

the only characteristic of a vigilant student but also self-discipline. Yasuda &

Goegan (2023) argued that self-discipline leads students to be committed to their

duties, responsibilities, and obligations. That is supported by the study of

Damrongpanit (2019), who indicated that the person's key core skills for self-

control, are knowledge of one's responsibilities and future planning, observing

rules, respecting others' differences, and the concept of honor is self-discipline.

In addition, the study stated that when a community is made up of self-disciplined

people, it may result in a unified society and rapid social growth. Also, students'
 COLLEGE OF BUSINESS, ENTREPRENEURIAL, AND ACCOUNTANCY
DEPARTMENT OF OFFICE ADMINISTRATION
lives have improved in numerous ways thanks to their ability to maintain self-

discipline. Furthermore, the study clarifies how self-discipline impacts university

students' experiences (Simsir & Dilmac, 2020).

Synthesis

Related literature and studies have been gathered to support this research

study. The school policy provides the regulations that are for the operational

procedures of the school, and for the betterment of the students as it includes

regulations for student discipline. There are four sub-factors under the student

conduct and discipline namely the attendance policy, ID requirements, proper

uniform and dress code, and the code of conduct. All of the aforementioned sub-

factors contribute to encouraging the students to develop self-discipline and a

sense of security in the school premises. With the students being disciplined and

feeling safe from harm and distractions, a positive learning atmosphere can be

developed in the school, which is beneficial for the student’s academic

performance.

The students are expected to act according to the school policy. Students

can apply either of the two types of regulatory focus theory—promotion focus, or

preventive focus—as a strategy for adhering to the school policy. Students who

use a promotion-focused approach may abide by the school policy because they

are motivated to achieve their goals and are anticipating something in return.
 COLLEGE OF BUSINESS, ENTREPRENEURIAL, AND ACCOUNTANCY
DEPARTMENT OF OFFICE ADMINISTRATION
They frequently devote themselves to achieving self-development and

improvement. On the contrary, students who use a prevention-focused approach

may act in accordance with the school policy as they view it as an obligation and

to avoid unfavorable repercussions. They frequently display self-control and

discipline. Overall, compliance with school rules can improve students'

motivation, cooperative skills, responsibility, and discipline. The utilization of

these traits can improve their academic performance. It may result in greater

motivation to learn effectively and perform well in class.